Following a meeting of UNISON’s Scottish Local Government Committee on Tuesday 14th October, the committee has taken the decision to suspend strike action planned for 21 October and consult our members on new proposals put forward by the Scottish Employers (CoSLA).

The proposals concentrate on three areas of our dispute: the future participation in the agreed bargaining machinery; consolidation of the living wage; and the deletion of spinal column point below the level of the living wage.

The view of the Scottish Local Government Committee is that these proposals represent a significant change to the current award. In line with our agreed procedures UNISON is consulting members on the revised pay offer from the employers and a full consultative ballot will now take place.

Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair said, “The branch’s view is that to get the employers back round the table represents a significant achievement on the part of our negotiators and we are delighted that our low paid members will benefit from the consolidation of the living wage.

“We recognise that for our members, 1% is still a pay cut of around 16% but at least we can now engage with the employers within the proper bargaining machinery next year and we will certainly be campaigning for a better pay rise for us all.”

The ballot will open on Monday 20 October 2014 and close on Monday 3 November 2014.